Vacuum comminutor



June 14, 1966 F. H. cLUTE VACUUM COMMINUTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1. 1963 JNVENTOR. Franc/5 h. (IL/Te June 14, 1966 F. H. CLUTE 39 5 VACUUM COMMINUTOR Filed March 1. 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Rig. 0.

INVENTOR. F Pane/s H. C/ufe United States Patent 3,255,793 VACUUM COMMINUTOR Francis H. Clute, Rocky Ford, (1010., assignor to Francis H. Clute & Son, Inc., Rocky Ford, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Filed Mar. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 261,988 2 Claims. (Cl. 146-1) This invention relates to material conveying and comminuting means and, more particularly, to a machine for reducing the particle size of various types of solids in a region as the solids are conveyed through such region.

The present invention porvides a means for communiting solid materials by passing the same through a region of reduced air pressure and subsequently conveying the materials as comminuted, out of the region toward a collection area. It is believed that the unusual results obtained with the use of the present invention stem directly from the unique design of the structure itself and from the explosions or bursting effects of the materials by virtue of the fact that the internal pressures thereof exceed the external or atmospheric air pressures on the materials.

The comminuting effect of the present invention is attained by initially creating a flow of air at high speed in one direction through a tubular passage by means of a suction device in the nature of a centrifugal fan. The tube is constructed so as to be enlarged directly adjacent to the suction device and it is in this enlarged portion of the tube that the comminution occurs. Since the portion is directly adjacent the suction means, the air pressure on the materials passing through the tube is at a minimum. Since the air pressure in this region may be varied, the degree of comminution of the materials may be controlled, it having been found that the particle size of the materials issuing from the suction de vice is a function of the speed of the fan, i.e., the value of the air pressure within the region.

The machine of the present invention is also configured to convey and comminute solid materials without causing appreciable contact between the materials and the elements forming the machine. Such construction, therefore, assures uniformity in particle size since the mateerials are restrained from further comminuting due to collisions with the elements of the structure.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide structure for reducing the air pressure in a region and for passing solid materials to be comminuted through the region by means of a flow of air at high speeds, whereby the materials within the region will explode and thereby be reduced in particle size by virtue of the fact that the internal pressures of the materials will exceed the external air pressures thereon to the point where the explosions will occur and, in addition, the resulting exploded material will be subsequently conveyed out of the region by the said flow of air.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a machine of the type described wherein the reduced air pressures in the comminuting region may be varied, whereby the structure is capable of controlling the particle size of the materials issuing from the region by virtue of the fact that the degree of comminution of the materials is dependent upon the value of the air pressure in said region.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of structure of the aforesaid character wherein the materials pass through the region and out of the same to a collection area without substantially contacting any of the elements forming the structure so as to minimize collisions of the materials with the elements and, there fore, to assure uniformity of particle size of the materials passing to the collection area.

Yet another object of the present invention is the pro- VlSlOIl of a comminuting machine of the above described character which utilizes a centrifugal blower and a tube having .an enlarged extremity covering the inlet to the blower and extending outwardly therefrom whereby, upon actuation of the blower, the materials are conveyed through the tube and remainvintact until the enlarged extremity of the tube is approached, at which point the comminution of the materials takes place and the resulting smaller particles of the materials pass into the blower and out of the same with the flow of air therethrough.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a cutting device located at the junction of the tube and blower and disposed to cooperate with the rotatable vanes of the blower so as to chop or sever elongated stalk materials which, although reduced in size in the comminuting region, remain between the vanes and protrude therefrom, which stalk material, if left protruding from the vanes, would eventually jam the blower.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of vane structure for the blower which forms a number of substantially radially extending passages relative to the axis of rotation of the blower and which is configured to direct the comminuted materials toward the outlet of the blower along spiral paths through the passages, whereby the comminuted particles pass to the outlet of the blower without substantially contacting the vane structure and thus the particle size of the materials is maintained and determined by the air pressure in the comminuting region.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation-a1 view of the suction device and the means for actuating the same which forms a part of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. l-with portions broken away to illustrate details of construction;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the runner for the blower illustrated in FIG. 1 and showing the hub and the vane structure radiating from the hub outwardly thereof to the periphery of the runner;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the vanes of the runner illustrated in FIG. 3 and showing the connection thereof with the hub and an imperforate plate also forming a part of the runner;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the blower and the material-conveying tube coupled with the blower and forming a comminuting region directly adjacent the inlet of the blower, parts being broken away to illustrate details of construction;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the blower and tube looking down on the same and illustrating the relative positions of the vane structure with respect to the comminuting region and further illustrating the paths assumed by the materials conveyed toward and into the comminuting region;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view of the blower looking in the direction of flow of the materials through the tube and illustrating the cutting device associated with the blower for chopping or severing stalk materials;

FIG. 8a is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8a-8a of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 8b is a cross-sectional view taken along line Sl -Sb of FIG. 8.

The machine of the present invention includes as an integral part thereof a suction device 10 having a casing or housing 12 provided with a mounting frame assembly 14 for mounting suction device 10 upon a base 16. Also 3 mounted upon base 16 is an electric motor 17 for supplying motive power to drive the suction device 10.

Frame 14 consists of a pair of spaced, parallel angle iron frame ends 18 and 20 respectively, joined at spaced intervals by three generally upright supports 22, 24 and 26. Supports 22 and 26 are fixed by suitable means such as nut and bolt fastening means 28 to an angle iron frame receiving member 30 which in turn is fixed to base 16 in any suitable manner. Casing 12 of device 10 is confined between supports 24 and 26 and end members 18 and 20 which are welded to the exterior surfaces of casing 12 or fastened in any other suitable manner. It is further to be noted that casing 12 is of the type generally known as a spiral casing and is provided with an axial inlet flange 32 and a tangential outlet 34. Flange 32 is generally annular and interrupts support 26 dividing it into a first section 36 and a second section 38 which are each welded at their ends proximal to flange 32 to the latter. A pair of pillow block bearings 42 and 44 which are spaced and parallel and spaced axially from each other and from casing 12, are provided on supports 22 and 24 and fixed thereto by suitable fastening means such as bolts 46. Bearings 42 and 44 rotatably journal fan shaft 48 which extends axially therethrough and into casing 12. A pair of collars 50 and 52 are fixed to shaft 48 on facing sides of bearings 42 and 46 to prevent axial shifting of shaft 48. A double belt pulley 54 is fixed to shaft 48 intermediate collars 50 and 52. Motor 17 is provided with an output shaft 56 spaced from and parallel to shaft 48 upon which is mounted a second double belt pulley 58 aligned with pulley 54 but spaced therefrom. A pair of belts 60 and 62 drivingly interconnect pulleys 58 and 54.

It will be noted that an inclined support brace 64 may be provided extending between the upper portion of frame assembly 14 and the base 16 and fixed to the same by bolts 66 for additional support.

A runner 68 is mounted upon shaft 48 interiorly of casing 12 and includes a cylindrical hub 70 provided with a keyway 72 to permit hub 70 to be keyed to shaft 48, thereby preventing relative rotation of runner 68 and shaft 48. Runner 68 also includes a plurality of elongated, transversely arcuate, longitudinally straight vanes 74 fixed to the outer cylindrical surface of hub 70 at an acute angle relative to imaginary radii extending from the center of hub 70 radially outwardly through the points of connection of vane 74 with hub 70. Vanes 74, 'being transversely arcuate, have a concave surface 76 facing in the direction of normal runner rotation which is clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3.

Runner 68 further includes an annulus 78 fixed to common edges 80 of the respective vanes 74. The inner peripheral margin of annulus 78 is provided with an annular flange 82 extending axially outwardly relative to runner 68. Each of the vanes 74 is provided with a vane extension 84 which extends laterally into the area surrounded by flange 82.

The common opposite edges 86 of vanes 74 are fixed to a plate 88 which is comprised of an outer annular ring 90 and a frusto-conical central portion 92 integral with ring 90 and fixed to hub 70. It will be noted that the central frusto-conical portion 92 extends axially inwardly relative to runner 68 and to accommodate this construction, common edges 86 have an outer straight portion 94 and a taperingcentral portion 96 which is inclined to converge toward edges 80 as the hub 70 is approached.

As illustrated in FIG. 8a, each vane 74 includes a central, substantially flat, longitudinally straight portion 98 which is triangular in form as illustrated in FIG. 5. The base of portion 98 is rigid to hub 70 Within grooves formed therein and extending axially along the periphery thereof. The portion 98 is provided with side edges which converge as the outer extremity of the corresponding vane 74 is approached.

A pair of triangular, transversely arcuate sections 100 and 102 are integral with portion 98 at the side edges of the latter. Each of said sections 100 and 102 is provided with a pair of sides which converge as hub 70 is approached as is clear in FIG. 5. One face of each of the sections 100 and 102 is concave and merges with the corresponding surface or face of portion 98. The opposite face of each of the sections 100 and 102 is convex and forms with the opposite face of portion 98, the back of the corresponding vane 74.

The outer longitudinal edge of section 100 of each vane 74 extends radially and axially outwardly of hub 70 and is rigidly secured to plate 88. Similarly, a portion of the longitudinal outer edge of each section 102 is rigidly secured to the inner surface of annulus 78. The vane extension 84 of each vane 74 is integral with the remaining portion of the longitudinal edge of section 102. The outer longitudinal edges of sections 100 and 102 substantially merge with the inner surfaces of plate 88 and annulus 78 respectively.

An elongated tube broadly denoted by the numeral 104 is secured to casing 12 at the inlet opening thereof and extends outwardly therefrom as shown in FIG. 6. Tube 104 is provided with a frusto-conical portion 106 and a cylindrical portion 108 joined at junction 110 in any suitable manner with portion 106.

A cylindrical, tubular segment 112 is integral with portion 106 at the end thereof having the greater diameter. Segment 112 is fitted within the flange 32 of casing 12 and secured thereto in any suitable manner. It is preferred that segment 112 be press-fitted within flange 32, but it is conceivable, of course, that suitable fastening means may be provided for this purpose.

Portion 106 is provided with a frusto-conical, inner surface 114 and progressively increases in cross-sectional area as flange 32 is approached. The cylindrical inner surface 116 of portion 108 joins with surface 114 at junction 110 and extends outwardly therefrom as shown in FIG. 7.

A cutting device broadly denoted by the numeral 118, is carried on casing 12 and extends into the region surrounded by flange 32. Device 118 is provided with a cutting edge 120 which is disposed in relatively close proximity to the plane of the outermost edges of extensions 84. Edge 120 therefore, cooperates with such edges to chop or sever stalk materials which extend axially of suction device 10 and protrude from between the vanes 74. Device 118 includes a slotted base 122 secured by bolts 124 to casing 12. Device 118 is thus adjustable by virtue of the slots therein to accommodate the same for stalk materials of various kinds.

A cone 126 is secured to hub 70 at the end thereof corresponding to the inlet to casing 12 as is clear in FIG. 7. Cone 126 provides deflection means for material entering the runner 68 and thus prevents the material from striking hub 70.

In operation, motor 17 is energized to draw air into casing 12 by virtue of the rotation of vanes 74 about the axis of hub 70. Air is thus caused to flow through tube 104, through casing 12 and outwardly of the latter, through outlet 34. It is to be noted that the air follows substantially the paths 128 through portion 108 and the paths 130 in portion 106, as shown in FIG. 7. Also, air flows along spiral paths 132 between adjacent vanes 74 as illustrated also in FIG. 7. For all practical purposes, the air does not substantially contact any part of tube 104 or any appreciable part of vanes 74 as the air passes through tube 104, into and through casing 12 and out of the latter through outlet 34.

A region of reduced air pressure is formed within portion 106 and, by virtue of the configuration of the latter, air is caused to follow spiral paths of substantially increased diameter as the inlet of casing 12 is approached.

When solid material to be comminuted is deposited within portion 108 at a location remote from junction 110, the material follows paths 128 through portion 108 and then follows paths 130 in portion 106. It has been found that when the material enters portion 106, and before the material passes into casing 12, explosions of the various particles of the materials occur which reduces or comminutes the particles to smaller sizes. The smaller sized particles then continue into casing 12 and between adjacent pairs ofvanes 74 and follow paths 132 through casing 12 toward outlet 34. It isbelieved that the explosions or comminution of the material occurs because of the unique configuration of portion 106 and because of the fact that the internal pressures of the particles of the material are greater than the external or air pressures on the particles to a degree that the internal pressures cause a rupturing and a fracturing of the particles into a number of different parts. This belief is based upon the evidence obtained from many series of tests run with a device utilizing the concepts of the present invention. However, it is to be noted that applicant is not limited to this theory of comminution but that the present invention is intended to cover any theory by which the comminution of materials occurs with the structure as described.

The basis for the belief that the comminution occurs within portion 106 is the fact that the comminuted materials passing through casing 12 do not contact the adjacent surfaces of vanes 74 as the material passes along paths 132. This has been shown by tests wherein the vanes 74 were treated with a bluing agent prior to the comminution of the materials. It was found that the bluing agent was only slightly removed from the blades after the comminution operation, leading to the belief that vanes 74 do not contribute to the comminuting of the materials. Also, the uniformity of the particle sizes issuing through outlet 34 is another reason for the belief that the comminution occurs within portion 106. If vanes 74 were the means for reducing the particle sizes of the material, the sizes would be nonuniform since some of the particles would be struck with a greater force or more frequently, by vanes 74 than other particles in the same flow.

In addition, another test has been run with a device utilizing the concepts of the present invention wherein tough, baledhay was fed into the machine along with three different kinds of grain, namely, whole corn, maize and barley. All of the grain came out of the machine in uniform particle size and the baled hay also was comminuted with the grain. It is believed that if comminution occurred not in portion 106 but between vanes 74, that the grain issuing through outlet 34 would hardly be comminuted at all. If the vanes 74 were responsible for the comminution, the baled hay would cushion the grain between the exposed surfaces of adjacent vanes 74 and i there would be no comminution or little, if at all. However, the tests revealed that comrninution actually did occur and that the particle size was substantially uniform in all cases.

It has been found that by varying the speed of rotation of runner 68, the degree of comminution will be varied. This is believed to be true due to the fact that, by increasing the speed of rotation of runner 68, the suction force within portion 106 is increased to a greater degree. Conversely, as the speed of rotation of runner 68 is decreased, the suction force is also decreased.

Tests with a device utilizing the concepts of the present invention have also been run by directing particles of a solid material through the machine for cornminuting the particles to a certain degree. Subsequently, the particles were then run through the machine once again and further reduced in particle size to a greater degree. Additional passage of the comminuted particles reduced the particle sizes still further until the materials were almost a fine powder-like substance. It follows therefore, that any degree of comminution may be attained either by varying the speed of rotation of runner 68 or by redirecting the comminuted materials in a number of times through the machine.

It is to be noted that the construction of the vanes 74 is conducive for creating the spiral paths 132 of flow through casing 12. As air or material enters casing 12 and between a pair of adjacent vanes 74, the air or materials follow a path parallel to the concave leading sur- [face of the trailing vane of the pair and continues transversely of the vane toward plate 88. By virtue of the fact that the trailing vane merges with the conical surface of plate 88, the air or material tends to revolve in a circular path. However, the centrifugal force acting on the air particles or the particles of material combines with the circulation effect to cause the particles to flow along a spiral path, namely, path 132. It is evident that the particles do not substantially contact either the pair of vanes 74, the annulus 78, or plate 88 in passing toward outlet 34.

In addition to the above mentioned materials which may be comminuted with the machine of the present invention, various other materials may also be reduced in particle size by passing through portion 106 and toward the runner 68 within casing 12. Specifically, oil bearing seeds such as safilower, cotton flax and castor beans, may be comminuted upon passage through the machine. Snap corn, i.e. the shuck, corn and cob, have also been passed through the machine in tests with the result being that the cob and the shuck is reduced in particle size along with the corn kernels. The cutting device 118 is especially useful in severing the shucks of corn, as well as the stalks of baled hay along their respective lengths to prevent the jamming of the runner by the stalks and shucks as the latter protrude from between the vanes 74 axially of runner 68. Many kinds of ore may also be reduced in particle size by the machine of the present invention. For instance, mica ore containing about 5% book mica and the remainder being of bull quartz was utilized in a device following the concepts of the present invention and the particles of the quartz was reduced in particle size and the mica was de-booked or the sheets were torn apart so that a screen separation was quite satisfactory.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A material handling machine comprising:

a housing having a pair of spaced openings defining an inlet and an outlet, the opening defining said inlet being circular in configuration;

a tube having a frusto-conical portion and a cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion being coupled to the frusto-conical portion at the end of the latter having the smaller cross-sectional area;

means coupling the opposite nd of said frusto-conical portion to said housing at the opening thereof detfining said inlet, whereby a flow of air created in said tube will flow into said housing through said inlet;

a rotatable shaft within said housing and aligned with said inlet; 1

a hub secured to said shaft for rotation therewith;

a plurality of vanes secured to and extending outwardly from said hub, said vanes being circumferentially spaced apart and each including a central, substantially fiat, triangular portion secured to the hub and having a pair of opposed side edges, the latter being convergent as the outer end of the vane is approached, and a pair of triangular sections secured to respective side edges of said central portion, each section merging with said central portion and having a concave surface facing the direction of rotation of the corresponding vane, each of said sections having a pair of opposed side margins, said side margins of each section being convergent as said hub is approached;

an annulus secured to each vane respectively at the side thereof adjacent said inlet, said annulus having an inner periphery substantially complemental to and aligned with the circular opening defining said inlet;

an imperforate plate secured to each vane respectively at the opposite side thereof, said plate having a first, inner, conical portion and a second, outer, annular portion, the sections of the vanes at respective opposite sides thereof merging with said first and second portions, said vanes, said annulus and said plate defining a number of fluid passages for receiving respective outwardly directed, spiral flows of air as the shaft is rota-ted in said direction of rotation of 1 the vanes;

an extension secured to each vane respectively at said one side thereof, the extension being angularly disposed relative to the flow of air into said inlet and extending into the latter; and

a cone secured to said hub in alignment with the flow of air through said tube and disposed for deflecting the air away from said hub and into said passages.

2. A material handling machine comprising:

a material-conveying tube; and

an enclosed, actuatable fan coupled with one end of said tube for creating a flow of air therethrough by suction toward said one end, said fan including a runner provided with a hub, a plurality of circumferentially spaced vanes secured to the hub and extending outwardly therefrom, and means secured at the opposed edges of the vanes for forming with each pair of adjacent vanes a closed passage -for said flow of air to permit said flow to be directed outwardly of the hub,

said vanes and said forming means having structure for creating outwardly directed, spiral flows of air through the passages formed thereby, the portions of the tube adjacent said one end thereof having a progressively increasing cross-sectional area as said one end is approached, said forming means including an annulus fixed to one longitudinal edge of each vane to present an air inlet for said fan, there being an extension on said one longitudinal edge of each vane respectively, the extensions projecting laterally from respective vanes into said inlet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 416,070 11/1889 Pelzer 230119 1,019,385 3/1912 Warg -141 1,320,079 10/1919 MacGregor. 1,697,202 1/ 1929 Nagle. 2,265,758 12/1941 Klosson. 2,386,401 10/ 1945 Joyce 24147 X 2,605,800 8/1952 Mateu 146107 2,675,967 4/ 1954 Mote 24147 2,778,577 1/ 1957 Linke 241-47 2,823,868 2/ 1958 Scherer 2412 2,848,029 8/ 8 West 146-107 2,910,250 10/1959 Fisher 241-101 3,096,718 7/ 1963 Anderson.

FOREIGN PATENTS 63,233 7/1892 Germany. 269,616 l/1914 Germany. 464,449 4/1937 Great Britain.

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner.

J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Examiner.

WILLIE G. ABERCROMBIE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINE COMPRISING: A HOUSING HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED OPENING DEFINING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET, THE OPENING DEFINING SAID INLET BEING CIRCULAR IN CONFIGURATION; A TUBE HAVING A FRUSTO-CONICAL PORTION AND A CYLINDRICCAL PORTION, THE CYLINDRICAL PORTION BEING COUPLED TO THE FRUSTO-CONICAL PORTION AT THE END OF THE LATTER HAVING THE SMALLER CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA; MEANS COUPLING THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID FRUSTO-CONICAL PORTION TO SAID HOUSING AT THE OPENING THEREOF DEFINING SAID INLET, WHEREBY A FLOW OF AIR CREATED IN SAID TUBE WILL FLOW INTO SAID HOUSING THROUGH SAID INLET; A ROTATABLE SHAFT WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND ALIGNED WITH SAID INLET; A HUB SECURED TO SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH; A PLURALITY OIF VANES SECURED TO AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID HUB, SAID VANES BEING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED APART AND EACH INCLUDING A CENTRAL, SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT, TRIANGULAR PORTION SECURED TO THE HUB AND HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE EDGES, THE LATTER BEING CONVERGENT AS THE OUTER END OF THE VANE IS APPROACHED, AND A PAIR OF TRIANGULAR SECTIONS SECURED TO RESPECTIVE SIDE EDGES OF SAID CENTRAL PORTION, EACH SECTION MERGING WITH SAID CENTRAL PORTION AND HAVING A CONCAVE SURFACE FACING THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF THE CORRESPONDING VANE, EACH OF SAID SECTIONS HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE MARGINS, SAID SIDE MARGINS OF EACH SECTION BEING CONVERGENT AS SAID HUB IS APPROACHED; AN ANNULUS SECURED TO EACH VANE RESPECTIVELY AT THE SIDE THEREOF ADJACENT SAID INLET, SAID ANNULUS HAVING AN INNER PERIPHERY SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLEMENTAL TO AND ALINGED WITH THE CIRCULAR OPENING DEFINING SAID INLET; AN IMPERFORATE PLATE SECURED TO EACH VANE RESPECTIVELY AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE THEREOF, SAID PLATE HAVING A FIRST, INNER CONICAL PORTION AND A SECOND, OUTER, ANNULAR PORTION, THE SECTIONS OF THE VANES AT RESPECTIVE OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF MERGING WITH SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS, SAID VANES, SAID ANNULUS AND SAID PLATE DEFINING A NUMBER OF FLUID PASSAGES FOR RECEIVING RESPECTIVE OUTWARDLY DIRECTED, SPIRAL FLOWS OF AIR AS THE SHAFT IS ROTATED IN SAID DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF THE VANES; AN EXTENSION SECURED TO EACH VANE RESPECTIVELY AT SAID ONE SIDE THEREOF, THE EXTENSION BEING ANGULARLY DISPOSED RELATIVE TO THE FLOW OF AIR INTO SAID INLET AND EXTENDING INTO THE LATTER; AND A CONE SECURED TO SAID HUB IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE FLOW OF AIR THROUGH SAID TUBE AND DISPOSED FOR DEFLECTING THE AIR AWAY FROM SAID HUB AND INTO SAID PASSAGES. 